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Program offers help for rebuilding

Date: 1/24/2012

Jan. 25, 2012

By G. Michael Dobbs

news@thereminder.com

SPRINGFIELD — The state has $8 million to help property owners upgrade their homes and businesses damaged by the June 1, 2011 tornado to be much more energy efficient.

Galen Nelson, the director of Intergovernmental Partnerships at the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, was touring Springfield last week with City Councilor Timothy Rooke and meeting with property owners about the program.

Nelson explained to Reminder Publications the funding helps cover such improvements as attic, wall and basement insulation, high efficiency heating and hot water systems, Energy Star replacement windows and doors and solar electric and solar hot water systems.

The program is part of ReBuild Western Massachusetts.

The funding comes in the form of grants and zero interest loans, he explained. The funding doesn’t involve any Massachusetts tax dollars, but is funded largely through payments made by utility companies and federal funds.

There is an $8 million pool of funds for the program and so far $100,000 in grants and $150,000 in loans have been awarded, he said.

Nelson said that people who have not yet hired a contractor should call 877-524-1325 and a staff member from the program will analyze a tornado victim’s home or business free of charge to determine a level of assistance.

“It’s never too early to call,” Nelson said.

The recommendations for greater energy efficiency and savings can then be incorporated into a repair or rebuilding plan, he added.

Those property owners who decide to add photovoltaic cells on their roofs to generate electricity will find “significant reduction of the cost of the system,” Nelson said.

If the repairs have been completed to a property, Nelson said the owners should still call the program to see for what help they may qualify.

“We don’t want to exclude anyone, regardless where you are in the process,” he said.

For more information, go to www.mass.gov/energy/ReBuildWesternMA.



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